Month: June 2022

After Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday announced that the Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chillar-starrer will be tax-free in the state.

“We’ve decided to make the film Samrat Prithviraj tax-free in the state”, said Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Declaring, the film Samrat Prithviraj tax-free in the state, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “Based on the life of the great warrior Prithviraj Chauhan, we have decided to make the film “Samrat Prithviraj” starring Shri @akshaykumar ji tax-free in Madhya Pradesh so that more and more youth can know about the great emperor which will increase love for their motherland.”

“We announce that the movie ‘Samrat Prithviraj’ will be made tax-free in Uttar Pradesh so that a common man can also watch this movie,” Chouhan told ANI.

The tax-free announcement first came from the Yogi Adityanath government after a special screening of the movie was held for the Yogi cabinet on Thursday.

The film’s lead pair of Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chillar were present at the special screening alongside director Chandra Prakash Dwivedi.

Earlier on Wednesday, Home Minister Amit Shah also attended a special screening of the film. Seeing the film, the Home Minister was elated and praised the cast and producers.

He said, “As a student of history, I not only enjoyed watching this film depicting India’s cultural heritage but also understood its importance for Indians.”Shah revealed that after 13 years, he has seen a film in a theatre with his family. “I have seen a film in the theatre with my family after a gap of almost 13 years. It was a very special day for our family as we sat in the last row of the theatre with the cast and producers of the film,” the Home Minister said.

Highlighting the importance of the film to our culture and women empowerment, Amit Shah said, “The film firmly displays the political power and freedom of women to make choices in the medieval period.

Notably, this film will release in theatres on June 3. For the first time, 2017 Miss World Manushi Chhillar will be seen in this film with Akshay Kumar. This is Manushi’s debut film. This film is directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi. (ANI)

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday gave a one-month ultimatum to the officials of the Silk Board of Karnataka to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for setting up modern cocoon markets at the already allocated land in Kalaburgi and Haveri.

While chairing the review meeting for the implementation of budget programmes in the Agriculture Department, the Chief Minister asked the officials to submit the proposal for upgrading the Sidlaghatta Cocoon market.
“The payment of Rs 10,000 per ton subsidy for Bivoltine cocoons has been approved,” he said while asking the concerned officials to release it through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system for the beneficiaries.

The meeting also discussed setting up of cold storages at Devanahalli, Maddur, and Ranebennur in Karnataka.

Sericulture and Sports Minister Narayana Gowda, Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma, and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.

Earlier on March 12, Bommai had mentioned the incentives of Rs 10,000 for increasing the production of Bivoltine cocoons. He had stated that the parched lands of the region would be draped in green by bringing water from the Ettinahole project. (ANI)

Amid the rising water crisis in the provinces, the blame game between Punjab and Sindh continues as Sindh officials accuse their counterparts in Punjab of not agreeing to an independent evaluation by the Wapda’s International Sedimentation Research Institute (ISRIP).

However, the Punjab officials blamed Sindh for choosing an irregular site at Guddu for monitoring and for ‘mal-regulation’ at the barrage, Dawn reported.
The committee members of ISRIP visited Sukkur and Guddu barrages on May 14 and 15.

The measurement done by Wapda’s ISRIP actually substantiated Sindh’s claim about less water flows at Taunsa downstream. Despite a mathematical mistake seen in Guddu upstream flows, the upward recording of flows “supports Sindh’s claim of missing flows between Taunsa and Guddu”, an official said, adding that Sindh’s reported discharge at Guddu upstream (45,748 cusecs as reported on May 15 at Guddu by Sindh versus 36,567 cusecs of ISRIP)

The Sindh official said the sites for inspection in the province were chosen by Punjab’s representatives and in Punjab by Sindh under the committee’s decision, according to Dawn.

In another statement, a Punjab irrigation official said, the Badani site was suggested by Sindh officials when Punjab representatives pointed out that the 300-ft downstream Guddu site was not straight, talking to Dawn.

He further claimed that the Punjab representative was dismounted from the boat in a kutcha area when he demanded applying ‘moving bed correction’ on the ADCP and the incident was reported to the committee immediately.

There was no bar on giving any suggestion or raising any objection to the activity and this flexibility was evident when the task of monitoring river flow was shifted from Sukkur to Guddu after a two-hour mutual discussion, he added.

According to MNA Magsi, issues of trivial nature had cropped up during the measurement exercise, which had been discussed in the committee’s May 25 meeting as well. “If we keep sticking to those issues, then we will not be making a productive contribution to resolving water issues between two provinces,” he said in a statement discussing the issue.

Amid the ongoing water shortage in Pakistan and incessant rise in water theft, a high profile committee has been appointed during the proceedings of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Water Resources in Islamabad to deal with the alarming crisis.

The water situation in Sindh has worsened with little water flowing into its Indus-linked canals province from the upstream region of Punjab, sparking a small kerfuffle between the irrigation and water ministers of the two provinces.

The situation worsened this year with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah pointing out a water shortage of nearly 40 per cent. Highlighting how dire the situation has been in the province, he asked rice farmers to avoid cultivating the water-intensive crop this year, the report said. (ANI)

Chinese authorities, over the last one year, have increased the harassment and persecution of activists for commemorating the June 04, 1989 Tiananmen Massacre, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Thursday.

The Chinese government should acknowledge and take responsibility for the mass killing of pro-democracy demonstrators.
A few months ago, Hong Kong’s universities removed the Tiananmen memorials. In December 2021, the University of Hong Kong removed “Pillar of Shame,” a large sculpture commemorating the massacre victims, from the university premises.

The Danish sculptor Jens Galschiot tried to reclaim the artwork but no shipping companies wanted to be involved, citing fear of retaliation by the authorities. University students protested the removal by holding an “invisible” flash mob at the sculpture’s original site.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong removed “Goddess of Democracy” statues, which were modeled after the original statue erected by students at Tiananmen Square in 1989. Lingnan University also removed a Tiananmen wall relief.

In the mainland, as in previous years, the authorities in the weeks before the anniversary have preempted commemorations of the massacre.

According to HRW, They have restricted the movement and communication of members of Tiananmen Mothers, a group of relatives of Tiananmen Massacre victims, and many activists, such as Hu Jia, Gao Yu, and Zhang Lifan. You Weijie and Zhang Xianling, whose husband and son were killed in the crackdown respectively, said authorities blocked overseas calls to their cellphones.

The Chinese government has long ignored domestic and international calls for justice for the Tiananmen Massacre, and some of the sanctions that the European Union and US imposed in response have over the years been weakened or evaded.

The lack of a sustained, coordinated, international response to the massacre and ensuing crackdown is one factor in Beijing’s increasingly brazen human rights violations, including the mass detention of an estimated one million Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang and the direct imposition of national security legislation in Hong Kong that suppresses fundamental freedoms.

The Tiananmen Massacre was precipitated by the peaceful gatherings of students, workers, and others in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and other Chinese cities in April 1989, calling for freedom of expression, accountability, and an end to corruption. The government responded to the intensifying protests in late May 1989 by declaring martial law.

On June 3 and 4, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers fired upon and killed untold numbers of peaceful protesters and bystanders. In Beijing, some citizens attacked army convoys and burned vehicles in response to the military’s violence.

Following the killings, the government carried out a nationwide crackdown and arrested thousands of people on “counter-revolution” and other criminal charges, including arson and disrupting social order.

The government has never accepted responsibility for the massacre or held any officials legally accountable for the killings. (ANI)

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday warned his predecessor Imran Khan against making provocative statements after the PTI chief predicted the division of Pakistan into three parts and said that the country could lose its nuclear arsenal.

Imran Khan in a controversial interview aired on Wednesday said that if the country’s establishment does not make the right decisions, Pakistan could split into three parts and also lose its nuclear deterrent capabilities.
The ousted Prime Minister made these remarks in an interview with a private television channel.

“While I am in Turkey inking agreements, Imran Niazi is making naked threats against the country. If at all any proof was needed that Niazi is unfit for public office, his latest interview suffices. Do your politics but don’t dare to cross limits & talk about division of Pakistan,” Shehbaz said in a tweet.

When asked about his equation with the Pakistan establishment and prospects of him coming back to power, Imran Khan said, “The actual problem here is of Pakistan and the establishment. If the establishment does not take the right decision, then I will give it to you in writing that they will be destroyed, and the armed forces will be the first ones to be devastated.”

“Pakistan will be broken in three parts,” he added.

The PTI chairman Imran Khan warned that once the country’s economy is destroyed, it would go into default, and the world would ask Pakistan to move towards denuclearisation — as was done to Ukraine in the 1990s, The News International newspaper reported.

He also said that Pakistan is on the brink of “self-destruction” and will go “bankrupt.”

Reacting to the former premier’s comments, former president Asif Ali Zardari slammed Khan and said that no Pakistani could talk of tearing this country apart.

“This language is not of a Pakistani but of Modi. Imran Khan’s power is not everything in the world, be brave and learn to stand on your feet and do politics now,” he said.

Zardari directed the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers to protest the remarks of Imran Khan throughout the country.

The PPP coalition partner Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Talal Chaudhry said that having lost power, Imran Khan has started talking about the country breaking up and losing nuclear assets.

“We want the Supreme Court to answer whether or not we have the fundamental right to hold a peaceful protest. We will announce the date for our next long march as soon as the apex court rules on the petition,” he told a social media conference in the provincial capital, as per the media portal.

This comes in the backdrop of a tiff between the federal and provincial governments in Punjab and the use of force during Imran Khan’s “Azadi March” that led to large-scale clashes in Islamabad. (ANI)

Delhi Election Commission on Thursday appointed Cricketer Yash Dhull as the State Icon for NCT of Delhi to motivate youngsters to get enrolled to exercise their right to vote.

The Indian Cricketer and ECI State Icon for NCT of Delhi called on Dr Ranbir Singh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi.
The CEO congratulated Yash Dhull for his outstanding performance in cricket at such a young age.

During the meeting, various issues related to electoral registration, especially for young and new voters, and the role of Yash Dhull to educate and motivate the youngsters to enrol themselves in the electoral roll were discussed.

Dhull assured Singh to provide all possible support to enhance the electoral participation of the young population.

Cricketer agreed to participate in college-level voter awareness events as well.

He thanked the CEO for choosing him as the State Icon of Delhi for making a stronger and more inclusive democracy in the country.

Dhull made his first-class cricket debut for the Delhi Cricket Team in the 2021-22 Ranji Trophy.

He was also the Captain for India for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies. India has won the prestigious World Cup 2022 tournament. (ANI)

The hot air balloon rides, started by the Tourism Department of Jammu and Kashmir at the Zabarwan Park in Srinagar, have increased the tourists’ experience and happiness in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

The rides were launched by the state Tourism Department in collaboration with a private firm on April 2.
The hot air balloon is said to have the capacity to hold four people besides the captain, ensuring a breath-taking view of the Zabarwan Mountains and Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Zeeshan, the Operational and Marketing Head of a private firm that has introduced the ‘hot air balloon’ services in the Union Territory for the first time, said, “We have introduced the hot air balloon for the first time, that too we are commercialising it. We have two slots for the tourists to enjoy the ride, i.e., the morning slot where the service will be provided from 6 am to 9 am, while the second slot would function from 4 pm to 8.30 pm.

While talking to the ANI on Thursday, Zeeshan mentioned “the balloon can currently elevate up to the height of approximately 200-feet. It is a tethered balloon which is tied with the ropes from all the sides for high-land exertion in the Zabarwan park.”

He also explained the firm’s plans to enhance tourism and create recreational activities that were earlier unavailable in the valley.

“We were the ones who introduced the concept of Aero-balloon in Kashmir in 2014 but now we have replaced it with hot air balloon as we want people to enjoy the activities here in Kashmir that were earlier unavailable here,” he added while mentioning their upcoming adventurous concept of Glamping.

As per the marketing head, the firm also provides opportunities to tourists to paraglide and raft boats on the river and this new concept of Glamping would be more like luxurious camping.

“Glamping, the luxurious camping, will also be the first-ever such activity to be introduced in Kashmir,” he said.

The tourists at the Zabarwan Park were delighted with their experience and recommended everyone to come to the place, at least once.

“It is a very beautiful experience to view the Dal lake and have a 360-degree view of Srinagar. It definitely makes one very happy,” said a tourist Sumita Dass.

Another visitor, Pooja talked about her dilemma to visit UT in the first place, and eventually talked about her “wonderful experience” during her first visit to Kashmir.

“This is my first visit to Kashmir. Earlier, we were sceptical to come here because of one controversy,” said Pooja while stating that UT’s tourism has developed now.

She further said, “Upon reaching here, we realized that it is peaceful here and the people are also very kind and polite.” (ANI)

A bank manager was shot dead by terrorists in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Thursday.

“Terrorists fired upon a bank manager at Ellaqie Dehati Bank at Areh Mohanpora in Kulgam district. He received grievous gunshot injuries in this terror incident. He is a resident of Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. Area cordoned off,” police said.

He succumbed to his injuries, police added.

Meanwhile, people belonging to the Hindu community employed in Kashmir staged a protest in Jammu and demanded security for members of their community.

Earlier on Tuesday, a 36-year-old migrant Kashmiri Pandit and high school teacher Rajni Bala was shot dead by terrorists in the Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. Over the last two months, two civilians – including Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat — and three off-duty policemen were killed in Kashmir by terrorists.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha are likely to hold a high-level meeting here in the national capital on June 3 over the killings of Kashmiri Pandits in the Union Territory in the last few days, official sources said.

It is learnt that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh will also participate in the meeting that is expected to start on the scheduled date in the first half of the day.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, as well as Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force Kuldeep Singh and Border Security Force chief Pankaj Singh, are also expected to attend the meeting. (ANI)

Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel, who recently quit Congress, is all set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday and said he will work as a “small soldier” to serve the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“With the feelings of national interest, state interest, public interest and social interest, I am going to start a new chapter from today. I will work as a small soldier in the noble work of service to the nation under the leadership of the successful Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi,” Patel tweeted.
Hardik catapulted to the political centre stage in 2015 when he spearheaded the Patidar reservation agitation in Gujarat, building the campaign in the run up the 2017 state Assembly elections.

Initially, Patel demanded the OBC status for the Patidar community. Subsequently, it was transformed into a demand for reservations for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).

With the BJP government accusing Hardik of fomenting trouble, the Anandiben Patel-led Gujarat government kept on slapping cases on Hardik during the Patidar quota agitation.

His emergence on the political scene in the state put the then Chief Minister Anandiben Patel in a spot. In 2016, Anandiben Patel announced her resignation from the post.

Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Patel joined Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. He, was then, appointed as the working president of the Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee in Gujarat in 2020. However, he accused Congress leadership of sidelining him while making important decisions and eventually quit the party in 2022.

On May 19 this year, Patel resigned from the party and stated that Gujarat Congress leaders were least bothered to address real issues of the state but were more focussed on ensuring that the leaders who come from Delhi to Gujarat get “chicken sandwich” on time.

He had also alleged that Gujarat Congress leaders tried to disrupt his political effort “sitting in the AC chambers”.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Congress chief Jagdish Thakor has claimed that Patel decided to quit the party as he was afraid that he might have to go to jail in sedition cases registered against him.

Hardik’s induction into the BJP is significant as Assembly elections are due this year. (ANI)

Popular American actor Johnny Depp on Wednesday won a high-profile defamation case between him and his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Following his win, several Bollywood celebrities expressed their support for the decision made by the jury in favour of Johnny Depp via social media.

Global star Ali Fazal took to his Instagram stories, clearly, the 35-year-old star was watching the Johnny Depp’s verdict’s live coverage. In his first story, he wrote, ” OK this is next level aniticipation :::. Anyone else watching this. #depp #heard #verdict”

In another story, Ali shared a picture of Johnny’s win.

Bollywood actor Disha Patani shared a picture of Johnny Depp in her IG story, she wrote, “Nobody can ever replace you, @johnnydepp”

Actor and producer Neil Nitin Mukesh also shared a heartfelt IG story for Johnny Depp, he wrote, “And there is justice” with a big heart.

South Indian star Shruti Haasan congratulated Johnny Depp via her Instagram story, with a quirky message. She wrote, “Congratulations! I adore you. Now please go get sober”

Bollywood celebrity Sophie Choudry shared a message of support in her Instagram story, “Tell the world, I Johnny Depp, a man, am a victim too of domestic violence. See how many people believe or side with you.” 6 years later he told his truth & he won both in and out of court. #AbuseHasNoGender #JusticeForJohnnyDepp #JohnnyDeppVsAmberHeard.”

The jury has awarded Johnny Depp USD 15 million in damages. Amber Heard has also won part of her libel case against Johnny Depp over articles in a privately owned newspaper, in which Johnny Depp’s former lawyer described her claims of domestic abuse as a hoax.

The jury has awarded Amber Heard USD 2 million in damages.

For the unversed, after several years of dating, Depp and Heard married in a very private ceremony in their home in Los Angeles in 2015. On May 23, 2016, Heard filed for divorce from Depp and obtained a temporary restraining order against the Oscar-nominated actor. She alleged that Depp had physically abused her during their relationship, and said it was usually while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. (ANI)